When
You First Arrive...
On the day of your
procedure, you will
be asked to arrive
45 minutes prior to
your procedure. Our
Admitting Representative
will greet you, verify
your demographic information,
take a copy of your
insurance card(s),
and apply an identification
band to your wrist.
You will wait with
your family in the
family room until
the nursing staff
escorts you to the
pre-procedure area.
For your family's
comfort, it is advisable
for them to bring
a sweater and something
to read while waiting
in the family room.
In
the Pre-Procedure
Area...
You will be asked
to remove your clothing
and jewelry and will
be given a gown, slippers,
and cap to wear. Your
belongings will be
placed in a bag with
your name on it and
placed in a secure
location. Your dentures,
hearing aids, glasses,
and contact lens may
be removed just prior
to entering the procedure
room. During some
procedures you ay
be permitted to even
required to keep those
items with you. Our
nursing staff will
review your medical
and surgical history,
and take your vital
signs (blood pressure,
pulse, and temperature).
They will ask you
about the last time
you had anything to
eat or drink and if
you have any allergies.
They will ask about
special needs or concerns
and explain what you
and your family can
expect during your
stay. You will be
asked to verify and
sign a procedural
consent form.
A member from our
anesthesia care team
will review your health
history and talk with
you about appropriate
anesthesia options.
They will review your
personal history and
the type of anesthesia
that they feel will
be best for you, depending
upon your medical
history and your procedure.
You will have the
opportunity to ask
questions and provide
information that may
be important to your
care. Once your questions
have been answered,
you will be asked
to sign an Anesthesia
Consent Form. An intravenous
line will be started
in your arm and you
may be given some
IV medication to sedate
you (make you drowsy),
prior to entering
the procedure room.
You will be transferred
via stretcher to the
procedure room.
In
the Procedure Room...
Your stretcher will
be taken to a procedure
room. Monitoring equipment
will be applied to
your chest and a finger.
This allows the surgical
team to continuously
observe your heart
rate, blood pressure
and oxygen level in
your blood. Safety
devices will be used
to keep you safe,
comfortable, and secure
throughout your procedure.
Anesthesia...
Our anesthesia care
team consists of anesthesiologists
(M.D.'s), and nurse
anesthetists (CRNA's)
that are experienced
in providing anesthesia
to patients that will
go home the same day
of surgery. Outpatient
endoscopy procedures
are performed with
monitored anesthesia
(you are in a sleep-like
state, feel no pain,
and are able to breath
on your own without
assistance). You will
have the opportunity
to ask any questions
you may have as well
as provide information
that may be important
to your care e.g.
family history relative
to anesthesia and
any issues you have
had with past experiences.
Our anesthesia care
team will remain with
you and monitor you
continuously throughout
your procedure. Following
your procedure, the
anesthesia care team
will continue to monitor
the progress of your
recovery, up until
the time you are discharged
home.
Recovery
Phase...
Following your procedure,
you will be taken
to our recovery area.
Although it may vary,
outpatients can expect
to stay in the recovery
unit for approximately
1 hour. The procedure
room nurse will give
a report of your experience
to the recovery room
nurse. She or he will
perform an initial
assessment and place
some monitoring equipment
on you similar to
equipment used in
the procedure room.
An automatic blood
pressure cuff will
be applied to your
arm and will take
your blood pressure
every five minutes.
You will have an oxygen
cannula in your nose
or a mask on your
face until you are
more awake. You will
remain on a stretcher
until you are awake
and your blood pressure,
pulse, and respirations
are stable. You will
be given some light
nourishment including
water, juice and/or
crackers.
Discharge
Home...
The nurses will give
you and/or your family
or caregiver verbal
discharge instructions.
You will be given
a written form with
diagnostic findings
and recommendations
along with post-endoscopy
instructions from
your doctor. When
you are ready to go
home, you will be
taken by wheelchair
to your automobile.
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Our nursing staff will
phone you the day following
your surgery to make
sure you are doing well
and to answer any questions
you may have. They will
also ask you about your
experience at NDS. They
want to know about your
degree of satisfaction
with the services you
received and if you
have any suggestions
for improvement. Upon
discharge, you will
be given a Patient
Satisfaction Survey
that we strongly encourage
you to complete and
return. You may also
click
here and complete it
online. Your feedback
helps us to continually
improve the way we care
for our patients. Your
thoughts are very important
to us.
